Molecular aspects of avirulence genes of the tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum

Host genotype specificity in interactions between biotrophic fungal pathogens and plants in most cases complies with the gene-for-gene model. Success or failure of infection is determined by the absence or presence of complementary genes, avirulence and resistance genes, in the pathogen and the host plant, respectively. Resistance, expressed by the induction of a hypersensitive response followed by other defence responses in the host, is envisaged to be based on recognition of the pathogen, mediated through direct interaction between products of avirulence genes of the pathogen (the so-called race-specific elicitors) and receptors in the host plant, the putative products of resistance genes. The interaction between the biotrophic fungus Cladosporium fulvum and its only host, tomato, is a model system to study fungus–plant gene-for-gene relationships. Here we review research on isolation, characterization, and biological function of two race-specific elicitors AVR4 and AVR9 of C. fulvum and cloning and regulation of their encoding genes. Key words: avirulence genes, race-specific elicitors, resistance genes, hypersensitive response, host defense responses.